James River rivals try to deliver knockout blow

FLW Championship field to be whittled in half after today’s competition

Mike Hawkes flips on the Appomattox. Photo by Jeff Schroeder. Angler: Mike Hawkes.

September 11, 2003 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

RICHMOND, Va. – With a brilliant moon, warm temperatures and generally calm conditions serving as backdrop for Thursday’s competition, the championship field of 48 pros and co-anglers departed the Osborne Boat Landing shortly after 7 a.m. with one unified goal in mind: advancement to tomorrow’s semifinal round. However, for many anglers, the task will be a daunting one.

In fact, many pros – including the likes of Kevin VanDam, Dan Morehead, David Walker, Tim Carroll, Paul Elias and Randy Blaukat – will be forced to make up deficits ranging from nearly 5 to 7 pounds in order to advance to the round of 24 and survive today’s all-important cut. Although those types of comebacks are not unusual in FLW competition, the stingy James River will make that task extremely difficult for anglers needing to make up significant ground. To underscore this point, other than Rob Kilby (11 pounds, 12 ounces) and Shad Schenck (11 pounds, 5 ounces), no other angler had more than a 10-pound stringer in Wednesday’s competition.

In addition, anglers probably will be facing another round of difficult fishing conditions during today’s competition – including swollen river levels, stained water clarity and strong tides as a result of the waning full moon and lingering effects of yesterday’s powerful winds. However, with some of the best anglers in the world in attendance, the field is equipped with the experience, knowledge and resolve to overcome such adversity.

“It’s not over yet,” said Morehead during yesterday’s weigh-in, underscoring his own resolve despite falling behind 48th-seeded rival Alvin Shaw by more than 7 pounds heading into today’s event.

Although nobody can predict the outcome of today’s competition, perhaps VanDam summed it up best: “You’re going to see a lot of surprises this week.”

For the remainder of the $1.5 million FLW Tour Championship, that is probably the only thing anglers can count on.

FLW action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, located at 300 North 5th St. in Richmond, Va. In addition, visitors will be able to check out the outdoor sports and boat show at the same location from 1 to 9 p.m. All events, including the weigh-in, are free of charge to the general public.

For fans outside the Richmond area, you can follow the drama of the head-to-head bracket weigh-ins live every day on FLWOutdoors.com. Complete with live, streaming audio and results, FLW Live is your fastest and most complete option for catching all the action from the 2003 Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship. Transmission begins every day at 4 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

Vital statistics:

Sunrise: 6:48 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 56 degrees
Expected high temperature: 78 degrees
Water temperature: 72-78 degrees
Wind: from the north at 8 mph
Relative humidity: 68 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny